To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Proclaim October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution declaring October 2025 Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Contra Costa County as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a national campaign dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence. In 1989, Congress declared the month of October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Every October, organizations and individuals unite across the country for a national effort to uplift the needs, voices, and experiences of survivors. In 1995, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) convened several national domestic violence organizations to launch a new effort to support domestic violence program’s awareness and education efforts for DVAM. This collaborative effort became the Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP), which comes up with an annual theme to inspire people to action.
For 2025, the theme for DVAM National Conference is “Care. Community. Connection” this highlights the importance of collective care, the strength found in collaboration, and the essential connections that unite us in community, uplifting our shared commitment to supporting survivors, amplifying their voices, and taking action to end domestic violence.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 2025.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This resolution supports all five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (1) “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School”; (2) “Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood”; (3) “Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient”; (4) “Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing”; and (5) “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.”
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
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IN THE MATTER OF proclaiming October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Contra Costa County:
WHEREAS, in 2024, per the U.S. Department of Justice, Contra Costa law enforcement agencies received 3,252 domestic violence-related calls for service, of which 88% involved the use of a weapon and, per the Coroner’s Office and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, five domestic violence-related homicides occurred; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the 2025 National Conference on Domestic Violence theme, “Care. Community. Connection.” we celebrate the importance of supporting survivors, amplifying their voices, and working to end domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, for 24 years, the Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse has advanced the Board of Supervisors' commitment to ending domestic violence through strong public-private partnerships, raising awareness, and innovative prevention and intervention efforts; and
WHEREAS, for over 13 years, the Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance has partnered with more than 80 local and community-based organizations to assist interpersonal violence survivors through four Family Justice Centers in the County, offering healing spaces and survivor leadership and empowerment programs; and
WHEREAS, for 48 years, STAND! for Families Free of Violence, has promoted safe and strong families by offering comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment programs to address domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse in Contra Costa County; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, STAND! for Families Free of Violence responded to more than 12,000 crisis calls through their 24/7 crisis support hotline (1-888-215-5555), provided emergency shelter and support to hundreds of survivors while meeting their unique needs, delivered immediate emotional support, high-danger lethality screening, and safety planning, and elevated youth voices while training over 1,000 youth on Teen Dating Violence Prevention; and
WHEREAS, for 33 years, Narika has provided culturally responsive services to domestic violence survivors in the Bay Area including Contra Costa County serving over 970 survivors in 2024 through their confidential Helpline, multi-lingual advocacy, case management and peer counseling, transitional housing support, legal resources, support groups, emergency safe nights and transportation, as well as community education and prevention services; and
WHEREAS, since 1976 and through the efforts of their staff attorneys and pro bono volunteers, Contra Costa Senior Legal Services has provided critical free legal services to vulnerable residents aged 60 and older including those facing physical, psychological, and economic abuse, and is committed connecting these individuals with appropriate care and support to thrive; and
WHEREAS, PFLAG Danville-San Ramon Valley Chapter partners with community-based organizations to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones, educate about identities and intersectionality, and address the impact of marginalization, including higher rates of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and systemic barriers to support, thereby, enhancing visibility, reducing stigma, advancing IPV prevention, and promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors urges all residents to actively participate in the efforts to end domestic violence in our communities and does hereby proclaim October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.